I guess you’re ready to hit the clubs. Well, not quite. There’s something that you absolutely must have in your arsenal before you head out: a smartphone laden with the greatest, most vital apps for anyone about to paint the town red.

Here are some of the best free apps for Android and iOS that will make your night out an incredible one.

Clubs start turning on their lights, causing their worse-for-wear patrons to shuffle out onto the street, looking for a way home. Public transportation isn’t running, and most taxi companies have a 40 minute wait.

The downside? Uber can be expensive, especially when many people are using the service simultaneously, as something called “surge pricing” is implemented. This can send the cost of getting home soaring by as much as nine times.

It’s also only available in a handful of cities; if you live outside of a major metropolis, you may not even have access to it.

I know a lot of people who depend on FourSquare on nights out because, let’s face it, we’ve all gotten separated from friends on a night out. FourSquare makes it easy to get reunited. It also boasts thousands of venue reviews, making it easy to find the coolest, most interesting bars, clubs, and restaurants.

It’s late and you finally got to the hotel, but you can’t sleep. All that drinking and dancing has given you an almighty hunger for some pizza. But you can’t be bothered heading outside again. So, who do you turn to? Just Eat, of course.

What Do You Think?

I’ve just gone through some amazing apps that are guaranteed to help your night go smoothly — from getting around, to getting home, to getting fed. Did I miss anything? Tell me about it and drop me a comment below. I’d love to hear about what you use when you hit the town.

Matthew Hughes is a software developer and writer from Liverpool, England. He is seldom found without a cup of strong black coffee in his hand and absolutely adores his Macbook Pro and his camera. You can read his blog at http://www.matthewhughes.co.uk and follow him on twitter at @matthewhughes.